Humans have five senses:

• Sight is the sense that detects visible^* light.
• Hearing is the sense that detects sound waves.
• Touch is the sense that detects information about materials our bodies come in contact with.
• Taste is the sense that detects information about food as we eat.
• Smell is the sense that detects chemicals in the air.

Each one detects a different kind of information. Sometimes we collect information from a source with more than one sense and put it all together to understand it better than we could with just one sense. The last two are called "chemical senses" because they require contact with chemicals in our mouth or nose.

We use our senses to know what is happening around us. They protect us from danger. They help us work successfully. Without them, we would just guess about what the world is like.